Is my landlord ripping me off?

Question

I recently found out due to past agreement with lease or payment, my landlord end up have a four bedrooms apartment to himself for 350 a month.

He rented out three rooms for 350 each per month. So basically he's making 1,050 a month beforehe even pay his part for lease. So he make 700 in profit a month. However he pay all ulities include multi channels television and high speed internet.

I confronted him about it, I was shocked he didn't even make any attempt to hide this. He straight out say yes he pay only 350 for lease and rest of the tetants rent goes to ulities or into his pocket.

I tried to talk him into charge everyone only 100 while he can pay 50 or so a month. He refuse to have any of it. He simply say "well I got all neat furnitures for all of you. I let everyone use shelf full of books and my playstation 2 and 360 x box on my big screen television. I'm not greedy when it come to foods, I cook and leave out huge breakfast or dinner once or twice a week.

I have extra blankets that you're allows to use. I have a maid come in once a week to keep this place super clean. I let all of you use internet, and more. I also even let you slide away with not pay full rent last month. So I think you should be really grateful for all of this. If you doesn't like it, well you know where the door is, no one is keeping you here"

I admit he's right about those, but I can't help it but feel like he rip everyone off. Is he ripping people off or not?

Oh and I forgot to add this, he do work too. I'm not sure how much he make, but he does make somewhat decent moneys. The lease end in 8 months.

Answer 1

Listen he is not ripping you off, he is merely making money on his investment, which is his right to do so. Also, it doesn't matter how much he makes or how much he earns with an outside job, he purchased a home/Apartment and is making the best of a situation.,I don't know where you live, but I will tell you something, for all you are getting, here in New Jersey, you are very lucky....sorry, if I am being too blunt but the fact is, he is doing business and it is not illegal.

Answer 2

You said he pays part of the lease? That would make him not your landlord but a fellow tenant. If that is the case then what he is doing is profiteering and is very illegal. He can't collect rent from other tenants in the same property in excess of what is owned in rent. Who owns the property? If it is someone else to who he pays rent just like you then you need to notify the owner immedietly.

Answer 3

$350 a month for house access is nothing. I was paying $600 a month for one room, and laundry thats it. I didn't even have a TV. He lets you use everything, the TV, computer all of his electronics, and refridgerator. He sounds generous and its his property he could do what ever he wants. You don't like it move out.

Answer 4

If he owns the property, he can charge what he wants to. That is the beauty of owning a home. Paying rent is like flushing money down the toilet.

Answer 5

You didn't mention where you live, but in case you live in NYC ... this is against the law. You can't sublet for more than a very small percentage of the legal rent.

You really should check the laws in your area. 4 unrelated individuals in one apartment with each renting a room may be considered an illegal rooming house.

Answer 6

$350 a month for what you are getting sounds more than reasonable to me for what you are getting.
What he pays has no bearing. You agreed to pay $350.
Its like he said, If you don't like it, you know where the door is.
Try to find a similar living situation for less than $350 and see where it gets you . . .

Just my opinion.

Answer 7

No, he is not ripping you off. He is entitled to charge whatever he wants for rent....you are entitled to find a cheaper place. It sounds like he is throwing in the extras that anywhere else would cost you more. If you don't like it, move.

Answer 8

No he is not ripping you off. He is paying the utilities which is no small matter. Plus, don't forget, he is paying property taxes, insurance and property maintenance when required. I think you are getting a good deal!

Answer 9

I have a bad landlord to. I am on secion 8 . got last summer 2013. found a place 2 weeks in aug 2013. half a house. 2 bedroom. upper. a big back yard. the landlord are over 80. and said no pets. and wanted $1200 to move in. and next month I will pay $703 a month. I end up paying over $1900 to move housing pays $498 a month. then found out between aug and jan 2014. the landlord. try to use my bank checking acount. took over$300.had to get it back. later on. found out she took over $200 again from my bank card/had to get a new one. then she came up with. I did not pay in nov2013. I get s.s.i and s.s.a I told her I do not get my money wait 4 days .gave her a new check. all tell the 5th of every month. I end up not getting all my money in nov 2013. she try to cash my check over 4 times after I told her what happen. then she comes over one day and said I lose your check need a new one. I told her I will get more money in 4 days. so I took her word . gave her a new check and then void the first one. I did not trust her. then I found out the second check work. then she went on 5 times trying to cash the first check. taking more money from me. and my family.i went to bank. she has the same bank.i can't use checks on her again. so I give her money orders now from the bank. but she still stole more money. over$45.00 from hsn place. and my landlords name show up. I was mad. so the hsn had to cut account from hsn off. was trying to call me over 12 times from nove tell jan2014. so I had to change phone number. now she pops up when she feels like. I am so mad at her. I show her the check the bank had. she did not care. now we may be out on the street. I pay all bill around the 5th every month. it is on black and white paper.and now I see. the place I move in has mold and doors are falling a part and paint coming off. and my 3 year old daugfhter has gotten sick 2 times because of her. the place always cold and the stove does not work right. and cold air come in the windows. and the landlord. does the yard 2 times a month and when they clean yard up. they look in my trash. and trys to get in my place. sometimes the place smells the walls and have ants.i get free water and trash. also the tub has mold and doors. and my daughter does not want to sleep in her own room because it is to cold and the windows are very hard to open. if you do not open windiow right t. it will fall out. the building is over 120 years old and my doctors say it may have lead. and the carpet is so cheap it is falling apart. and if you look at the walls I see paint bleeding. and the heater in building does not help when cold air comes in, and around the doors cold. and the wood going down the stairs out side bubleing up. first I was living in small place .did not like for over 12 years. no room for my daughter who is 3 years old. that place was falling a part. bad and very cold. so when I got on housing in 2013. I had 60 days to move. I found this place it had a very big back yard size 4 big yellow bus..i like. so I look in side and thinking it was ok. untell I move in that's when hell happen. sometimes now the lights do not work and my daughter does not want to sleep by herself.i do not like the landlord. so I let my husband talk to her. I am very mad she does not listen to me.i did all I can. I try to get help free help. but the help I try to get. they will not help tell the landlord say I must go. I am on housing in my late 30's and husband in his late 60's. I am the one on housing. and housing does not care half the timeI need to keep but hate to pay landlord twices. so if any one on housing and pay rent by a bank check. do not do. do not trust anyone. pay by a money order, that's what been for 2 months now. and daughter who is 3 is scare from my landlord/ she was mean to my daughter more then one time. so watch where you rent . or move to..

Answer 10

YES!